Mark Esper confirmed by Senate as defense secretary
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The Senate voted to confirm President Trump’s pick to lead the Department of Defense, Mark Esper. The Senate overwhelmingly voted 90-8 to confirm him.
Esper, who had been serving as Army secretary, is now expected to be successfully installed as the Pentagon’s newest chief — replacing acting Defense Secretary Patrick Shanahan, who withdrew his name from consideration after reports of domestic violence incidents involving his family surfaced.
The Pentagon has been without a Senate-confirmed leader since December, when former Secretary James Mattis stepped down following Mr. Trump’s decision to withdraw troops from Syria.
Before serving as Army secretary, Esper most recently served as a lobbyist for the defense contractor Raytheon.
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